Tim Eriksen

Tim Eriksen is a folk musician, scholar, and multi-instrumentalist who’s spent decades digging into the roots of American traditional music. Known for his haunting voice and mastery of styles like shape-note singing, Sacred Harp traditions, and Appalachian ballads, Eriksen bridges raw authenticity with modern energy. He co-founded the avant-folk trio Cordelia’s Dad (which famously mashed punk ethos with old-time tunes) and has collaborated with artists ranging from indie-rock icons to film composers like T Bone Burnett (*Cold Mountain* soundtrack). His recent releases—like *Soul of the January Hills* and *Josh Billings Voyage*—showcase his knack for reimagining historical material with sparse, intimate arrangements that feel both ancient and freshly urgent.

When he’s not performing, Eriksen teaches ethnomusicology, having studied at Wesleyan and Harvard, and remains a fierce advocate for keeping traditional music alive through workshops and community singing events. Whether solo or with bands, his work feels like a conversation across centuries, delivered with the warmth of a campfire storyteller and the precision of a historian.

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